The Judge (3 page)

Chapter 6

With a deep breath, his red eyes full of intense anger, Connor twisted to his side and let go of his grip on the knife, sending Jack and all of his weight into the wooden floor. The knife stuck fast, deep within the grain of the thick wood. Both men jumped to their feet. Jack grabbed Connor and lifted him from the floor, throwing him once again at Laren’s metal bars. Connor managed to twist his body in mid-air and land on all fours by Laren’s cell door instead of slamming against the steel.

The Ripper yanked the blade free from the floor, charging again. A wild light was in his eyes. A light that said he was past any human thought and instead had embraced his Elite gene, letting his animal instinct completely control him now. With a snarl more befitting an animal than a man, he sent a right kick into Connor’s left ribs.

Connor grunted as he absorbed the hit, locking the Ripper’s right leg with his left arm. Blood dripped into Connor’s eyes from the gash on his forehead but he was focused. He concentrated past the pain.

Grabbing a large handful of the Ripper’s collar with his right hand, he pivoted, trading places with him and slamming Jack against Laren’s metal cage with bone-shattering power.

Jack’s animalistic eyes went wide with surprise as his teeth rattled from the impact. But like a true killer, he regained his composure quickly and his right arm struck out, sending the knife deep into Connor’s left leg.

The pain was staggering and Connor’s leg gave out on him, sending him into a kneeling position on the floor.

The Ripper would have been pleased with himself. More honey-like words would have oozed from his mouth, but he had let his Elite gene take over. All that came out were growls from the beast.

Connor looked at the knife sticking from his leg and then up at his enemy, preparing to pounce. He braced himself for the impact but it never came. Instead, a slender arm slipped through the bars behind the Ripper, locking around Jack’s neck.

Laren squeezed Jack’s throat between the crook of her elbow and the metal bars. Connor could see her own eyes glazed over yellow. Jack struggling for breath clawing at her hold wheezed with the exertion of breathing. Laren leaned in and whispered in his ear. “How many innocent men and women have you killed? You are a disgrace to our family and you should have been ended a long time ago.”

“Please,” Jack choked, reverting back from animal to man, “I have… information… what they did to you… here… the experiments... what you are now…”

“Save your lies.” Laren jerked his head back in one quick motion and Connor heard Jack’s windpipe bend and break under the pressure.

Laren released her hold and the Ripper’s body dropped to the ground. His yellow eyes became green once again and fangs disappeared into crooked, yellowish teeth.

Connor staggered to his feet. Regaining his footing, he stumbled toward Laren. He paused only to pick up the keys from Jack’s limp body. Key turned and door open, Connor and Laren embraced. Laren was wearing the same clothes she had been abducted in and it was clear she hadn’t had a shower in days. Despite this, Connor hugged her closer. The throbbing above his eye and leg forgotten—nothing compared to the feeling of ecstasy he felt in her arms.

No matter how much Connor wished he could hold her forever, he knew he had to tell her. He couldn’t wait another second. Pulling her away so he could see into her eyes, his lips curled into a smile. “Larentia Abelardus, I’ve been wanting to tell you something.”

Laren was smiling as she held his hands in her own and played along. “Connor, you look like a school boy. What did you do now?”

In the most unromantic of places, a dank and musty prison cell, Connor professed his love. “I’ve known that I always liked you, and even more, I knew I was drawn to you, but it had to take you being kidnapped for me to see that I more than like you. Laren, when I was faced with the possibility that I would never see you again, I—” Connor paused, searching for the right words. “I was heart broken. I knew that a life without you was not one I wanted to even think about living.”

Laren was quiet, her dirty long brown hair falling around her face. The sky, still dark outside, gave no light through the cell’s one small window, but the torches along the hall played delicately with her features.

“Laren, what I’m trying to say is that I love you. I want to be with you. I’ve already told Katie. I don’t know what’s going to happen with me being the Judge or what my future has to offer, but I know whatever future I have, that it’s one I want to share with you.”

Laren wasn’t the crying type and that’s why Connor was caught off guard by the pools that formed in her eyes. “I love you too, Connor.” She looked like she was going to say more, but instead she stepped in close, tilted her chin, and closed her eyes.

Connor wrapped his right arm around the small of her back and his left hand gently held her right cheek and jaw line. The two found each other’s lips in the darkness. Fireworks burst inside Connor’s head.

It was a feeling Connor would never forget. One he looked forward to experiencing as much as he could in the days, the years to come. The two would have stayed there for an eternity, the danger of their current situation falling away, had a shout not ripped them from their kiss.

“Connor! If you can hear me, we’re about to have company!”

Chapter 7

Connor separated himself from Laren, feeling light headed and out of breath. He couldn’t help but smile despite his father’s news.

Laren also grinned. “You look so silly right now with that smile on your face.”

“I can’t help it. You’re in love with me.”

“What? You said you’re in love with me first.”

Connor shrugged, his large smile still in place. “We better get going. But definitely have to pick up where we left this off as soon as we get back.”

Laren rolled here eyes. “Oh do we? Well, I think I can get my secretary to pencil you in for a private appointment.”

The two headed for the stairs. They took the steps as fast as possible. Laren stumbled at the first landing and Connor looked back at her, concerned.

“I’m fine—it’s nothing. Just haven’t eaten in awhile.”

Connor kicked himself for being so selfish in wanting to tell her his news that he had neglected to ask about her well-being. “Laren, are you okay? What did they do to you?”

Laren knew what he was thinking. “No, it wasn’t anything like that. They didn’t torture me. Just barely any food and I feel like I have missing memory gaps of the last few days. It’s like I blacked out or something.”

Connor was about to ask more questions when the sound of splintering wood caught their ears. Connor and Laren rushed down the last few steps to find Caderyn crouching. He was poised, knives ready in front of a barricaded door that was splintering and bending inwards.

He looked up through wild strands of grey hair. “Glad to see you, Connor. Miss Abelardus, I’m glad to see you alive and well.”

Laren’s eyes widened as she looked from Caderyn to Connor. “Your dad’s here?”

“Oh yeah, there’s a lot that’s happened. We have to get you caught up on what’s been going on.” Connor winced as he realized that he would have to tell her about the Council and her father’s death. Not to mention what had happened to the castle, her home.

There was another thud. The large wooden double doors that led outside groaned under the pressure.

Connor stood by his father and took control of the situation. “We have what we came for. When they burst through, just get through them and keep moving. We’ll pick up Lu on the way out and head for Morrigan and Orion on the beach.”

Caderyn nodded and smiled at his son. “Great plan. You might want to pull out that knife sticking out of your leg first.”

Connor looked down at the hilt of the blade that still protruded from his leg where Jack had skewered him.

With a grunt he reached down and pulled the knife free. “Good call.”

Laren took a position on Connor’s left and the three stood poised and ready.

“When they come, no mercy, no hesitation,” Caderyn said.

There was the sound of another loud crash and the doors gave way, sending splinters flying in every direction. Wild-eyed Elites poured through the opening like water through a broken dam.

With a war cry, Caderyn was the first to move, Connor and Laren only a few feet behind. For the second time that day Connor admired his father on the battlefield. Each one of his moves was focused and planned ahead of time. Every move signaled the end of an enemy in his path.

Connor and Laren followed close, dealing with anyone still standing. The Elites that were attacking now seemed better prepared for a fight. Before where some had shied away, they now stood their ground.

The fight was brutal as blood flew through the air like rain in a storm. Father and son soon stood side-by-side, wading though the enemy lines.

Connor leaned back as a large axe swung at his head. When he lunged forward, his attacker found a fist across his temple. The next Elite to challenge him was a smaller fellow with a wicked looking notched sword that spoke testament to its effectiveness.

The sword-wielding Elite performed a few quick motions, whipping his sword through the air at incredible speed. It was obvious he was a trained master and had practiced these moves for countless hours. He smirked at Connor, licking his thin lips, silently challenging him.

Connor hesitated for a moment, but even as he did, he threw the knife in his hand through the air as hard as he could. It caught the sword-wielding Elite dead center, sinking deep into his leg.

The Elite’s jaw dropped open and his sword fell to the ground a second before his body followed.

The enemy was beginning to break. Caderyn was a buzz saw through their ranks and Laren was holding her own. Having spent days as a prisoner, she was releasing the anger and aggression she had felt over the last few days on whatever soldier happened to be unlucky enough to be standing in her path.

The trio was outside in minutes. The sky was still dark and a soft rainfall pattered the ground around their feet. Bodies littered the ground as the three searched for Lu. They didn’t have to look for long.

Besides the guards that had regrouped to attack them at the door, another small cluster of soldiers gathered. They surrounded the building Connor had seen Lu burst through when they had first arrived at the castle.

The building shook with a roar as whatever demon inside screamed a challenge at the surrounding soldiers.

Already frightened, the Elite soldiers broke and ran when they saw Caderyn, Connor, and Laren approaching. Too afraid to enter the building with one man inside, let alone challenge three, they turned and scattered in all directions.

The trio skidded to a stop in front of the worn building. It was dark inside and all that could be heard past the light fall of rain was heavy breathing. Laren raised an eyebrow at the two Judges beside her. “That’s Lu inside there, isn’t it?”

Father and son nodded. “Lu?” Connor shouted into the dark interior of the once enemy-filled barracks. “Lu, it’s us. We have Laren, she’s safe. We have to get going before they come back.”

There was no answer at first, then Connor caught sight of red water spilling slowly first and then flowing from the inside of the dark building. With a sick twist of his stomach, Connor realized it wasn’t water that was coming from inside, it was blood. A river of blood. More and more of the crimson liquid spilled forth, intermingling with the rainwater and mud outside until it was diluted by nature.

Chapter 8

Caderyn looked around nervously. “We don’t have time for this.”

“I’ll go in and get him,” Connor said.

“No, I will,” Laren reasoned, reaching out and catching Connor by the arm. “Let’s face it—if he has gone postal, I probably have a better chance of calming him.”

Connor hated sending Laren in alone but knew she was right. “Okay, hurry. I’ll be right outside if you need help.”

“I know.” She stepped inside the darkness of the building and was gone. Connor and Caderyn looked at each other as they heard growls from Lu and soft words from Laren.

“Shhhhhh… hey, it’s me. I’m okay. You rescued me. But we have to go now. Lu, can you see me? I’m fine. Now come on.”

“Laren, he’s dead.” Lu’s voice came back through the darkness, strained and dry.

“What? Who’s dead?”

“Dad. They killed him and the entire Council. Our home is destroyed.”

Connor’s eyebrows shot up as he looked at his father’s sad expression. He knew Laren would have to find out but this didn’t seem like the best way. Lu’s matter of fact way of speaking wasn’t exactly geared for delivering traumatic news.

“What?”

“When they took you. They killed—they killed everyone else.”

There was a long pause. A silence followed that made Connor’s own heart drop as he imagined what Laren must be going through.

The only thing that could be heard was the light rainfall. Connor stood in front of the building, his boots sticking in the mud and grass. Diluted by the rain and mud, stray fingers of blood made their way from the door around his boots. Almost as if the blood was reaching for him.

Connor ignored the red that flowed toward him and concentrated on Laren. She would need him now more than ever. He knew he could be there for her but Laren was such a strong person Connor couldn’t help but wonder if she would let him comfort her.

A few more moments of silence passed that felt more like hours. Connor’s dark hair was pressed against his scalp. The pain in his leg and head were already subsiding. His advanced healing was taking care of the recent wounds.

There was a noise now that made both father and son snap their heads to the left. Whatever soldiers remained from the attack were gathering now. They were still a half-mile out but they could be heard through the rain.

“We have to go now, Connor,” Caderyn said. “We may be able to fight them off again but there’s no point; we have what we came for. No need to endanger anyone’s life further.”

Connor nodded and was about to open his mouth to address Lu and Laren when both of them walked out of the enemy barrack. Lu was covered in dark crimson blood, his shirt gone, and eyes back to their normal jade green. He ignored both men as he stepped through the doorway out into the rain.

Laren came next. She was shaking and taking in deep breaths. Her normal bright green eyes were dull. She shivered as she walked toward them. Connor’s heart tore. He would have done anything in that moment to ease her pain. She took an unsteady step outside and fell.

Connor rushed to her side. Kneeling down beside her in the rain and mud, he asked, “Laren? Laren, are you all right?”

“No. Connor, there—there’s something wrong.”

“I know. I’m so sorry about your father. I was going to te—”

“No, I mean—I mean I feel weak. I—”

As Connor knelt down cradling her head in his arms, he could see the brightness in her eyes slowly receding. It was like watching an eclipse as the darkness slowly took over and consumed the light.

“Connor! They’re coming! We have to go now!” Caderyn shouted.

Connor bit his lip, searching for an answer to what was happening to Laren. He gently lifted her in his arms and held her close to his chest. “It’s going to be okay, Laren. You’re probably in shock. I’m here now. I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”

Connor could hear the shouts now and the running of feet as enemy soldiers approached.

“Hurry,” Caderyn said.

Connor rose to his feet and ran towards the beach with Lu and Caderyn behind him. The three men’s feet pounded sand as spears buried themselves around the group.

Connor chanced a look behind them. There were a dozen or more soldiers in pursuit. They were still thirty to forty yards back but they were gaining on the group with every step. Standing and fighting would have been an option before but between Laren’s safety and Lu’s irrational behavior, Connor knew that avoiding a confrontation was the best choice.

A few more yards down the beach the group caught sight of Orion and Morrigan. Morrigan walked towards her fleeing allies. Her hood in place, the only thing to set her apart from a shadow was the two manicured hands that shot to the sky. Lightning answered the sorceress’s call. Thunder boomed in the distance. Electric energy filled the air in red pulsing light. There was a loud cracking noise and a scream, then another and another. Seared flesh fought to be smelled over the cold sea air.

Connor looked back again to see their enemy slowing down. Crack after crack brought unnatural red lightning bolts on the unlucky men behind them. Those that were hit were lifted off their feet and thrown aside like rag dolls. The few soldiers that remained scattered and broke in every which direction except towards them.

When they reached the group, Morrigan lowered her hands and her eyes dilated back from red to brown. “Laren?” she asked. “Is she all right?”

“I—I don’t know,” Connor fumbled over his words. “She was okay but her eyes…”

Morrigan gently turned Laren’s head towards her and nodded. “It’s good to have you back, Larentia.”

Laren managed a weak smile.

“Orion, let’s get her back to the palace.”

Orion exchanged worried glances with Caderyn and nodded. Ferryman and sorceress interlocked hands and a portal was ripped in space and time next to the group.

Connor held Laren tight as he stepped through, happy to have her back, and at the same time terrified that something out of his control was damaging the person he loved.